Planetarium



Jan. 28, 1941'.

v. c. JONES 2,230,039

PLANETARIUM Filed April 13, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 lrvveryfor V. G. dorvei in-onus r Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLANETARIUM Application April 13, 1939, Serial No. 267,738

8 Claims.

The invention has for its principal object, the visual indication of terrestrial time in hours and minutes completely around the earth, the portions of the earth in darkness and the portions subject to sunlight at any given time, and the positions of both the sun and moon in relation to the equatorial part of the earth, including moon phases, and all such indications resulting from mechanical and automatic operations of the working parts of said planetarium.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for manually adjusting the planetarium to position any geographically indicated part of the earth to the uppermost point and such, that if said planetarium is located at such locality, said planetarium may be positioned in phase with the local points of the compass.

A further object of the invention is to provide said planetarium with a celestial sphere, semiautomatic with the working parts of said planetarium and which may be operated to indicate the seasonable position of the sun and various heavenly bodies in their relation with the earth.

With the above important objects in view which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts, hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the planetarium with a piece broken away to show the terrestrial semi-sphere.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 44, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a reduced plan view of the minute disc.

Figure '7 is a reduced plan view of the cone shaped member covering the minute disc.

Figure 8 is a reduced diagrammatic view of the hour dial in the flat.

Figure 9 is a reduced diagrammatic projection of the northern hemisphere of the celestial sphere.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The outer frame of the planetarium comprises a pair of side legs I and a rear leg 2 which support a semi-circular horizontal bar 3 and the frame is suitably re-enforced by cross members 4 connecting the side legs to the rear leg near the bottom. An inner frame is formed from a T shaped piece of metal to provide a pair of side legs 5 and a rear leg 6. The side legs of the inner frame are suitably pivoted at l to the horizontal bar 3 while the rear leg 6 is provided with a series 5 of V shaped slots 8 on its periphery which are adapted to register with a set screw 9 on the rear part of the bar 3 in order that said inner frame may be pivoted and held in any desired position.

The lower ends of the legs 5 and 5 are fastened 10 to and support a circular casing IE] which carries the working parts of the planetarium. Two vertical plates II and I2' are suitably spaced and braced by rods l3 and the lower rods are fastened to the bottom of the casing H) by screws I4. The 15 plate ll carries an electric motor I5 on its outer face and said motor is started by a starting wheel l6 which projects through a hole in the casing Ill. The current carrying wires for the motor are indicated at IT. The motor shaft drives a pinion 20 I8 which, through a chain of gears I9, 20, 21, 22 and 23, drives a worm 24 which meshes with a central worm wheel 25. This Worm wheel; in turn, drives a central vertical shaft 26 carried in bearings from plates 21 and 28 supported from 25 the Vertical plates II and I2.

Above the plate 21, the shaft 28 carries a pinion 29 which meshes with a gear 33 rotatably supported on a plate 3| carried from the plate 21. The gear 3!) drives a pinion 32 which meshes with 30 two gears 33 and 34. These two latter gears have a different number of teeth but the variation is so slight that they mesh satisfactorily with the pinion. The gear 34 drives a sleeve 35 mounted on the shaft 26 while the gear 33 drives a sleeve 35 36 mounted on the sleeve 35. The upper end of the sleeve 36 rotates a bar 3'! which has one end curved downward and then looped upward and terminates in a disc 38. This disc represents the moon.

The upper end of the sleeve 35 carries an inverted cup shaped member 39 and the periphery thereof carries an upper series of progressive numbers from 1 to 24 and passing therearound while a lower series of progressive numbers from 1 to 12 passes half way around with the 1 under the upper number 13 and the 12 under the upper number 24. The numbers are also evenly spaced around the member and represent the hours of the day. Just below the number 12 on the upper series and partly cutting said number is a star which represents the sun. Below the sun is a circle with the letters N. M. to represent the words new moon. Three other circles are evenly spaced around the member from this point with the letters F. Q., F. M., and L. Q. to represent the Words first quarter, full moon, and last quarter respectively. One-half of the periphery of the member is a dark color (represented by crosshatching) and the other half light to represent the hours of darkness and of light.

Above the cup shaped member 39, the shaft 26 is provided with a paper disc 49 which is fastened by a nut 4|. The paper disc covers the upper face of the cup shaped member, rotates with the shaft 26 and the edge of the face is provided with an annular row of progressive numbers 49' from 1 to 60 to represent the minutes in one hour.

The upper T shaped piece of metal, at the junction of the legs 5 and 6, is forwardly slotted at 42 to receive the screw threaded end of a shaft 43 and this shaft is fastened thereto by a nut 44. The lower end of the shaft is connected to and supports a semi-sphere 45 which carries a representation of the northern hemisphere of the World. This semi-sphere will later be referred to as the terrestrial semi-sphere. The semi-sphere 45 is hollow and contains a cone shaped member 45 having the upper end held to the shaft 43 by a screw 41 while the bottom part contacts the lower edge of the semi-sphere 45 and projects over the annular ring numbers 40, except at one point where a cut-out 48 is provided. This cut-out represents the south point of the compass and at equal distances around the cone shaped member the other points, east, north and west are printed.

Rotatable on the shaft 43 and surrounding the semi-sphere 45, but spaced therefrom, is a further hollow semi-sphere 49 of Celluloid or other transparent material andwhich will later be referred to as a celestial semi-sphere. The lower edge of this semi-sphere frictionally contacts and covers the side of the circular cupshaped member 39 and rotates therewith. This semisphere is provided with an encircling line 50 directly registering with an equatorial line 50' on the terrestrial semi-sphere. A further series of encircling lines 5| are provided above the line 50 to mark off the celestial semi-sphere at intervals of 15. The celestial semi-sphere is also marked off by twelve equi-spaced vertical lines 52 from the top centre down. An ecliptic line 53 is also indicated crossing the line 50 at two places which are marked by the months March and September. The other months are indicated in their proper places on the ecliptic line. The days of the month are also indicated by short lines crossing the ecliptic line while the signs of the zodiac are positioned close to the months. A large number of fixed stars are also indicated, as at 54, in their proper position on the celestial semi-sphere and may be numbered so an observer could look up a numbered index and find their names.

The lower part of the casing II] is provided with two holes 55 which receive the anchored ends of a V shaped bar 56. A semi-sphere 51, having a representation of the southern hemisphere of the world is positioned centrally on the bottom of the casing I0 and fastened to the V shaped bar 56 by a screw 58. This screw also holds rotatably, a further celestial semi-sphere 59 which is marked off in the same way as the upper celestial semi-sphere 4-9, but of course in correct orientation.

A registering pointer 69 is suitably fastened to the front face of the casing H) and registers with the hour numbers on the periphery of the inverted cup shaped casing 39. Small strips of paper 6| will be glued or otherwise fastened around the lower edge of the upper terrestrial semi-sphere with names of various cities in different time zones around the world printed thereon.

In describing the operation, it will be assumed that the device is located at a specific point on the northern hemisphere of the earth. The nut 44 is released and the whole upper assembly, including the shaft 43, celestial semi-sphere 49, terrestrial semi-sphere 45 and the cone shaped member 43, is removed, the celestial semi-sphere sliding off the cup shaped member 39. The nut 4| is unscrewed and the operator can then lift the member 39 up the shaft 26 until the gears 33 and 34 leave the pinion 32. The member 39 can then be rotated until the correct hour registers with the pointer 69. The member 39 is then dropped and the gears 33 and 34 re-mesh with the pinion. At the same time the paper disc 49 is rotated until the correct minute is registering with thepointer, which is the point at which the cut-out 48 will be positioned. The motor will then be connected to a source of time controlled power and started. The nut 4| is again fastened and the upper assembly, above mentioned, is re-inserted with the specific point of the northern hemisphere, above mentioned, directly in front and the cut-out 48 registering with the pointer 69. The inner frame and supported parts are then rotated on the pivot points 1 until the said specific point, above mentioned, is at the highest elevation and the set screw 9 is then screwed in to hold the inner frame in that position. The planetarium is then positioned such, that the front will be facing in a south direction and when this is done all the other points of the compass will be in phase.

A still simpler method to set the time, which could be provided if desired, would be to connect the gear 34 to the sleeve 35 by a friction disc and the paper disc 40 to the shaft 5 by a further friction disc. The friction would be sumcient to drive the parts mentioned but the operator could then turn the cup shaped member 39 by hand without removing any parts and the paper disc 40 could be turned in the same manner. The two celestial semi-spheres will be turned until the sun, indicated by the star on the hour rim, is in registration with the day of the month shown on the ecliptic line. The moon 38 will also be set in its position around the hour rim to register with the proper moon phase. This is done by lifting the moon up slightly to clear the gear 33 from the pinion 32.

When the machinery is in operation the terrestrial semi-spheres and lower celestial semisphere will stay still. The disc 40 will rotate and give the correct minutes at the cut-out 48. The inverted cup shaped member 39 will rotate and give the correct hours at the registering pointer 60. The moon will rotate and register correctly its position with respect to the sun and also the different moon phases on the hour dial. The time, at any part of the earth can be observed by the registration of that particular part with the hour dial. The time in the various cities, the names of which are printed on the small strips of paper 6|, will correspond with the time on the hour dial which registers with said strips. As the upper celestial semi-sphere is rotating with the hour dial, the various heavenly bodies indicated thereon will be in correct orientation with the earth and by observing the position of any star on said semi-sphere, its location in the sky can be ascertained at any time. Each day however, the celestial semi-sphere will be manually rotated to advance it one day on the ecliptic past the sun to keep the earth in phase with the heavenly bodies. If at any time it is desired to observe the position of the heavenly bodies at the southern hemisphere, the lower celestial semi-sphere can be rotated until its ecliptic exactly corresponds to the ecliptic on the upper celestial semi-sphere. It will then be in phase.

In Figure 1 it will be noticed that the ecliptic lines of the two celestial semi-spheres are not in phase. This was done purposely to show the opposite part of the eliptic, normally on the other side.

While it has been mentioned that the planetarium will register the earth time in minutes and hours and be in phase with the various heavenly bodies, it will be understood that, if desired, the planetarium may be run at sidereal time using the same hours and minutes for the reading. When this done, the sun and moon will not be in phase and therefore, can be removed. All the other parts will be in phase.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A planetarium comprising: an adjustable stationary semi-sphere; a rotatable semi-sphere enclosing said stationary semi-sphere; said stationary semi-sphere covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; said rotatable semi-sphere being transparent and provided with a representation of the heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; said semispheres pivotally mounted to rock at right angles to the axis of rotation of said rotatable semisphere; and means for locking said semi-spheres in a number of such rocked positions; and means for revolving said rotatable semi-sphere at a constant speed.

2. A planetarium comprisingn a stationary semi-sphere covered with a, representation of a geographic hemisphere; a rotatable transparent semi-sphere enclosing said stationary semisphere and provided with a representation of the heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; an hour dial carrying a series of evenly spaced progressive observable numbers; said hour dial rotatable with said rotatable semisphere; and means for rotating said hour dial at a constant speed.

3. A planetarium comprising: an adjustable stationary semi-sphere covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; a rotatable transparent semi-sphere enclosing said stationary semi-sphere and provided with a representation of the heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; means for pivotally supporting said semi-spheres in a plane at right angles to the axis of rotation of said rotatable semi-sphere; means for locking said semi-spheres in various pivoted positions; and means for revolving said rotatable semi-sphere at a constant speed.

4. A planetarium comprising: a framework; a pair of telescoped semi-spheres pivotally supported by said framework; the inner semi-sphere being adjustable and stationary and covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; the outer semi-sphere being transparent, revolvable, and provided with a representation of the heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; an hour dial rotatable with and adjustable with respect to said revolvable semi-sphere, and provided with a series of evenly spaced progressive observable numbers, each registerable with the different geographic longitudes on said stationary semi-sphere in the rotation of'said hour dial; and means for rotating said hour dial at a constant speed.

5. A planetarium comprising: a stationary sen1i-sphere covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; a rotatable transparent semi-sphere enclosing said stationary semisphere and provided with a representation of the heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; an hour dial revolvable with said rotatable semi-sphere and provided with moon phase indicating points therearound; an indicator revolvable around said hour dial and registerable with said moon phase indicating points in its passage therearound; and means for rotating said hour dial and said indicator at selected time speeds.

6. A planetarium comprising: a stationary semi-sphere covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; said semi-sphere provided with an equatorial line; a rotatable transparent semi-sphere enclosing said stationary semi-sphere and provided with a representation of the'heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; said rotatable semi-sphere provided with an encircling line directly registerable with the equatorial line on said stationary semi-sphere; said rotatable semi-sphere also provided with an ecliptic line crossing said encircling line and calibrated in months and days; an hour dial revolvable with said rotatable semi-sphere and provided with a solar index registerable with the calibrations on said ecliptic line; said hour dial adjustable in respect to said rotatable semisphere to vary the registrations of said solar index with said ecliptic line calibrations; and means for revolving said hour dial at a constant speed.

7. A planetarium comprising: an adjustable stationary semi-sphere covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; an hour dial rotatable around said stationary semi-sphere and provided with a series of evenly spaced progressive observable numbers up to twenty-four; said latter numbers each registerable with the various geographic longitudes on said stationary semisphere as said hour dial rotates; a circular member rotatable in respect to said hour dial; said circular member provided. with a series of evenly spaced progressive numbers therearound up to sixty; a stationary member covering said circular member; an opening in said stationary member through which said latter numbers are individually observable as said circular member rotates; said circular member adapted to rotate twenty-four times during a single rotation of said hour dial; and means for revolving said hour dial and said circular member at selected time speeds.

8. A planetarium comprising: a framework; a pair of telescoped semi-spheres pivotally mounted to rock on said framework; the inner semisphere being stationary and covered with a representation of a geographic hemisphere; said stationary semi-sphere also provided with an encircling equatorial line; the outer semi-sphere being transparent, revolvable, and provided with a representation of the heavenly bodies directly above said geographic hemisphere; an hour dial rotatable with said revolvable semi-sphere and provided with a series of evenly spaced progressive observable numbers up to twenty-four, each registerable with the different geographical longitudes on said stationary semi-sphere in the various rotated positions of said hour dial; said hour dial also provided with a solar index and I with moon. phase indicating points; a member registerable with said equatorial line on said stationary semi-sphere; an ecliptic line crossing said encircling line and calibrated in months and days and registerable with said solar index; said hour dial adjustable in respect to said rotatable semi-sphere to vary the registration of said solar index with said ecliptic line calibrations; a moon index revolvable around said hour dial and registerable with said moon phase indicating points in its passage therearound; means for revolving said hour dial, said rotatable member and said moon index at correct time speeds; and means for manually locking said semi-spheres in selected rocked positions on said framework. VERNON CHESTER JONES. 

